Plantation Crops

Manuring

Prevailing practice – Before sowing of nuts = 10 kg FYM per pit is applied – Increased biennially till the dose reaches – 60 kg per pit per year.
A dose of 10 kg FYM per pit is applied before planting and it has to be increased biannually till it reaches 60 kg FYM/pit/year.
Gap filling: After cultivation consists of gap filling. Gap filling may be carried out using containerized seedlings.
inter ploughing, Basin rectification in the initial few years. Basin rectification before rains helps for efficient collection and storage of rainwater.
Defoliation: Tending : Removal of persisting leaf bases (Tending) has to be attended in Palmyra periodically.
Intercrops: Upto initial 5 to 6 years == Seasonal crops = Cowpea, moringa, green gram, red gram, Bengal gram,
Mixed crops: With semi arid zone fruit cops like , Anona, ber, amla, pomegranate, moringa, carissa, west Indian cherry, guava etc appears to be good. (Phyllanthus emblica = Bettada nelli while P. acidus is Indian goose berry,)
Irrigation : In dry lands pitcher irrigation may be followed. Soil conservation measures Viz., Mulching, Forming basin, Rain pits, Legume cover crops etc be adopted. Plant protection .
Pests: As in coconut rhinoceros beetles, red palm weevils and black headed caterpillar Eriophid mite often cause damage.

        Diseases

Bud rot ,stem bleeding, Grey blight and tuber rot .
Bud rot : The palm is liable to infection Phytophthora palmivora Buttler, causing a serious fungal disease called “bud rot”. In the advanced stage of the disease the soft heart of the bud is converted into a foul – smelling, rotten mass and the tree dies. .
Control : Prophylactic spray and curative spray of Bordeaux mixture (1 %) spray or Fytolon ( 0.3 % spray) is suggested.